Hike Yellow Rock and Red Top Loop Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, UT

Mar 08, 2024 — Yellow Rock and Red Top are unique blobs of color just off Cottonwood Canyon Road, beautiful features that I couldn't pass by without checking out. The peaks are guarded by a dense layer of tilted rock called the Coxcomb, a prominent geological feature of nearly-vertical sandstone that's part of the East Kaibab monocline. Various routes are dotted onto some topo maps to overcome the strata in order to access the area, including a couple to reach Red Top, but I saw no signs of a trail or route while I was out there. There is also a known social trail leading up to Yellow Rock that I didn't use since I wanted a longer loop outing, but that way would provide easier access if you prefer. I wanted to form some sort of loop to get to both peaks and wander around the colorful landscape behind the Coxcomb formation. This area was recommended to me by fellow desert explorer and trip report writer Stan Wagon - thanks for putting this on my radar!

I parked at the Paria Box Trailhead, which could be accessed by any vehicle as long as the road isn't muddy. I hiked along the dry riverbed for a bit, but didn't realize I would eventually have to cross the river four times, choosing to take my shoes off and wade through the frigid water. The Paria River Box marks the spot where the Paria River runs through the Coxcomb formation. It's beautiful, but quite short. An old trail starts up just past the narrows, leading through a makeshift trellis and up a ramp, the remains of an old road. This trail winds up above the sheer canyon wall. Initially, I had planned to just head cross-country to Red Top, but this trail seemed to continue north and I was curious where it might lead. With plenty of time in the day, I decided to follow it and later found no references regarding this trail, so I'm not sure how it became so decently traveled. My hope was that it would eventually lead toward Yellow Rock. Aside from the occasional white sandstone pillar jutting out in the distance, the views were standard and it was just a nice stroll through the sandy landscape.

After a mile or so, I realized the trail was starting to lead me too far north, but fortunately, another social trail (initially hard to find) took me directly east up a wide slope, eventually leading to an overlook of Yellow Rock. The trail was faint, but if you find you are bushwhacking or stepping on cryptobiotic soil, keep looking until you find the proper route. There was even a spot where someone had placed black rocks on either side of the "trail," so it was clear this route was pioneered by humans rather than just animals. I was happy the trail existed so I didn't have to think too much about my route to get to Yellow Rock, including as it descended a sandy slope to the base of the peak.

I started hiking across the gorgeous yellow slickrock for which Yellow Rock received its name, ascending the steep windswept incline to gain the summit. The views were great, and I could see the incredible Castle Rock in the distance. I backtracked from Yellow Rock and reascended the sandy social trail to a wide spine that led me south toward Red Top. I could see its red dome perched atop white Navajo sandstone in the distance, plenty of interesting formations along the Coxcomb formation poking out on the left. There were hints of a social trail here and I did a pretty good job sticking to it, but this is clearly not a regularly traveled route.

After descending on a combination of sand and slickrock, I was funneled to a spot where I could cross a minor drainage that carved through the sandstone and then start back up toward the base of Red Top. There were some fun obstacles along the way to get to the peak, including a Class 2+ wrap around a significant headwall using a slickrock ramp. Now at the base of my second peak, I kept to the left until I found a Class 3 weakness to overcome the bright red dome. The views from Red Top were really incredible down toward the Paria Box, and the crest of the Coxcomb formation flaunted a myriad of colors unlike other things I've seen in this area.

I tried to explore one of the route options that were presented on a map I'd downloaded, but I got stuck in a slot canyon and decided to backtrack. I excluded this from my route and recommend you just navigate the Class 2/2+ sandy and slickrock terrain back to the original trail, which is on my attached route map.